best way to get wall paper off

You might use the search function to find many threads on this topic but most commonly you will find the suggestion of using plain water and a garden tank sprayer common. You should also have a thin, wide, flexible drywall knife. And you will need some patience to work in small sections.

Your goal is to dissolve the paste behind the paper and to do that you cannot be shy about the amount of water you apply to the paper. You want to create a soggy mess. So if you have nice wood floors, make sure you buy some plastic tarps. And having some contractor type trash bags handy to stick what you scrape off in would be nice too.

Many of us have done it too many times so I speak for all I hope in saying it is not one of the tasks any of us look forward to. It is worth the effort though.

Sorry to sound like I was duplicating what Oh'Mike said. We hit the button at the same time and then I edited some typos.

best way to get wall paper off

Indeed true. And I guess I have to adjust my thinking. The OP said it was old lady paper so I assumed she meant on an antique home and quite probably on nicely painted or sized walls from the 1800s to the 1920s. Had a birthday this week, and realize I am will be ten years past official antique car age next year! The OP could be talking about the hippy dippy flower power paper of the 60s and 70s! That is about the time "pre-geezers" of my era would have tried to paper themselves using the most hideous of techniques and materials.

Hopefully her challenge dates to an era when people hired paperhangers. Not all, from my observation, were the greatest at booking the paper or getting seams matched over pattern repeats or corners adjusted for square and plumb? Almost all sized or painted walls and applied paper properly. There were of course those that did not remove prior paper and papered over it---14 times.

best way to get wall paper off

I had to remove paper over brand new carpet and used 30" wide carpet protector like a giant roll of Scotch tape---laid out heavy plastic over the rug--taped it to the base boards with the carpet protector---

Several layers of cloth tarps---covered with plastic---worked well--

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best way to get wall paper off

Using hot water sometimes helps. Be patient when wetting the wall let it set 10 or 15 minutes then wet it again before you ever start scrapping. Can also add a little fabric softener to the water makes the house smell good and the paper won't dry out as fast while you are trying to scrap it.

best way to get wall paper off

All good advice given here. The absolute key to the whole process is PATIENCE. Wet, rewet, wet again, and rewet. Wait a few minutes and repeat. Keep wetting the paper over and over. With patience, you can literally pull the paper off in big sheets......again, if the wall was properly prepped.